BLM Began Wild Horse Gather in Sand Wash Basin
The federal agency has started an 11-day operation to relocate 300 horses from Colorado public lands.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Large Animals
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The Bureau of Land Management has initiated a helicopter gather in the Sand Wash Basin to address overpopulation, with 11 horses already removed as of September 20, 2026. The agency plans to relocate 300 animals in total, eventually returning 55 to the range while managing the herd size.
Why it matters
The program aims to bring the horse population back within the established sustainable capacity of 163 to 362 animals to prevent degradation of public rangelands. This effort follows a broader trend of large-scale removals, including nearly 4,400 animals taken from Colorado ranges since 1971.
Officials estimate the Sand Wash Basin herd size at 505 horses, which exceeds the sustainable capacity range by approximately 140%. The operation intends to remove 300 horses over an 11-day window.
The players
Bureau of Land Management
A federal agency responsible for managing public lands and maintaining herd populations through regular gather operations.
The details
The agency utilizes helicopter drive-traps to capture the wild horses and prepare them for transport to the Wheatland Off-Range Corral Facility in Wyoming. Following the gather, 22 of the remaining horses will receive fertility control treatments. Animals deemed suitable for placement will be made available for public adoption programs.
Timeline
Gather operations officially began on September 19, 2026.
BLM conducted reconnaissance activities on September 20, 2026.
Designated public observation days are scheduled from September 19-24, 2026.
The Home Front
This gather continues the federal mandate to maintain healthy ecosystems on public lands as established by the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The operation follows a pattern of intensive management, including recent actions that removed 894 horses from the Piceance-East Douglas area.
Residents near the Sand Wash Basin should be aware of increased helicopter activity and potential road traffic throughout the 11-day operation. Those interested in potential adoption opportunities for gathered horses should monitor official agency updates for upcoming placement eligibility criteria.
The takeaway
The Bureau of Land Management is actively reducing herd density to match land sustainability goals. Interested members of the public can contact the local district office for information on future adoption cycles for the animals removed from the basin.
Further reading
Find more context on current management practices at /lifestyle/pets/large-animals/ in our regional reports.
Live Poll
Do you support the use of helicopter drive-traps to control wild horse populations on public lands?
